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Fischer
Teonanacatalyst


Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 565
Loc: Downunder
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Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol?
#14236933 - 04/04/11 03:42 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I'm just quickly wondering - how effective is ethanol in killing a) Bacteria and b) mold spores?
Some people flame sterilise their needles, some alcohol, some both.
I figured that if it's reasonably effective on its own, perhaps placing your tools/materials in your glovebox then running a tiny humidifier (I've got one the size of can of cola) with surgical (non-denatured 70%) ethanol for 20-30 seconds (thus filling the glovebox with a fine mist of completely volatile disinfectant) would be an effective way of assisting in keeping contams at bay?
If so, I guess the next question would be would grain jars be negatively effected? Lidded agar plates?
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argg
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: Fischer]
#14236971 - 04/04/11 03:51 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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that might be dangerous as you are adding a fuel to air in a confines space. I know people use spray bottles all the time with it but how fine is the mist from the humidifier? If its really fine a tiny static spark can light it off plus the humidifier is electric right?
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SomeGuy
I feel better now :)


Registered: 04/18/10
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: argg]
#14236985 - 04/04/11 03:53 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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ethanol is very effective at killing mold spores and bacteria, but so is bleach, and at a much lower concentration and it's not flammable
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Gzaajhom
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Registered: 12/11/10
Posts: 183
Loc: USA
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: Fischer]
#14236993 - 04/04/11 03:54 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Fischer said: I'm just quickly wondering - how effective is ethanol in killing a) Bacteria and b) mold spores?
Some people flame sterilise their needles, some alcohol, some both.
I figured that if it's reasonably effective on its own, perhaps placing your tools/materials in your glovebox then running a tiny humidifier (I've got one the size of can of cola) with surgical (non-denatured 70%) ethanol for 20-30 seconds (thus filling the glovebox with a fine mist of completely volatile disinfectant) would be an effective way of assisting in keeping contams at bay?
If so, I guess the next question would be would grain jars be negatively effected? Lidded agar plates?
Alcohol will kill a lot the bacteria, but isn't as effective at killing spores.
Flame sterilization is good because it kills everything on the surface and inside the needle. This is why it is superior to rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol will only hit the very surface.
That runs a huge flammability risk, and I doubt it would be very effective any way. For alcohol to work, it has to be absorbed by the bacteria, and then evaporated off. If it's already a vapor, it would be less effective I assume. Also, the purpose of the glovebox is simply to provide still, unmoving air. The ultrasonic will defeat that purpose.
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Don't hate the player; hate the game. -Abraham Lincoln
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wildernessjunkie
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: SomeGuy]
#14237024 - 04/04/11 04:00 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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This sounds like an excellent way to blow yourself up. Fuel+Air+Contained space? Doesnt sound like a good idea to me.
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Fischer
Teonanacatalyst


Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 565
Loc: Downunder
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: SomeGuy]
#14237093 - 04/04/11 04:11 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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The mist is very fine, but it is still liquid. Potentially it's an explosive environment, but as long as the humidifier was feeding the glovebox through a tube (not in the box itself) there's no reason to fear explosion, especially with the mist being 30% water and with adequate ppe (face shield).
The idea isn't to run it all the time, but to put everything in the GB, fill it GB with mist until a little condensation starts occurring, turn it off, let the alcohol flash off (advantage over bleach/water) then get to work.
As far as needles go, flame sterilise beforehand, wrap tip in an alcohol-soaked cotton pad/sponge and place it inside before running the ultrasonic.
I believe it could be executed without risk (though perhaps not by everyone); my primary concern is whether it would actually provide any benefit.
Edited by Fischer (04/04/11 09:32 PM)
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OneU

Registered: 03/19/11
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: Fischer]
#14237178 - 04/04/11 04:32 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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you're taking an extra step to prevent a precautionary action by instituting a fatal probability
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Fischer
Teonanacatalyst


Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 565
Loc: Downunder
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: OneU]
#14238711 - 04/04/11 09:24 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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If you're gonna use big words, you may want to make sure you use the right ones in the correct way. (not meant snarkily, just making the point that sometimes less is more).
To bring it back to the original topic:
Ignoring the perceived risks of such a system, would it improve sterility, and could/would it harm the media? (I would think not, as only small amounts of ethanol would reach the media and most would presumably evaporate, but I don't know one way or the other)
Once again, no-one needs to encourage anyone to try this, and no-one holds any liability. I'm only enquiring about the effectiveness of finely misted 70% ethanol as a sterilising agent.
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Fischer
Teonanacatalyst


Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 565
Loc: Downunder
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: Fischer]
#14246073 - 04/06/11 03:58 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Well it looks like it's a bust no matter what the danger.
Everything I've been able to dig up has stated that ethanol, while effective in killing moulds, does nothing to neutralise spores.
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Gzaajhom
title


Registered: 12/11/10
Posts: 183
Loc: USA
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: Fischer]
#14246174 - 04/06/11 05:26 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Fischer said: Everything I've been able to dig up has stated that ethanol, while effective in killing moulds, does nothing to neutralise spores.
That is an interesting fact! I found in my own personal research that if you drink ethanol it acts as a psychoactive drug and functions as a CNS intoxicant! Sources available upon request, I will be publishing a medical paper soon.
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Don't hate the player; hate the game. -Abraham Lincoln
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Fischer
Teonanacatalyst


Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 565
Loc: Downunder
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Re: Glovebox + Ultrasonic +70% Ethanol? [Re: Gzaajhom]
#14247840 - 04/06/11 02:46 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I'm not sure that your sample group is necessarily large enough to give conclusive results.
Need a research partner?
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